A former student of mine encouraged me to include a blog on my website. Here it is.

This blog is meant to be very informal in terms of style, content and frequency of posts.

If you have any feedback or comments please e-mail me:
tomeppel@mac.com

March 24, 2009

During a workshop I gave last week, I was asked what I think of the current economic crisis: causes, mistakes, solutions, outlook. Of course, my honest answer was: I don't know. Nobody does. But not knowing doesn't mean that you can't do something or that you can't have opinions.

My extended, possibly naive, answer was that I always try to see a silver-lining in any problem. I can't help thinking of reports of extended families living under the same roof, out of economic necessity. I see them playing board games rather than going out to eat. I see them watching a Netflix DVD rather than going to the movies. Maybe this crisis will help us to reflect on old-fashioned and somehow forgotten values and habits.

I also dared to talk about the possibility of creating a new view on economics and politics. Free markets are essential. But so is government oversight. Is greed really good? Maybe it is an essential human motivator and necessary. However, we cannot ignore the dire consequences of uncontrolled greed. I hope the political discussion will see shades of grey rather than red and blue. We shouldn't throw out the baby with the bathwater, whether the baby is capitalism or, dare I say, socialism. Maybe we need a blend of both and not attach an "ism" to it. These "isms" tend to divide.

March 7, 2009

Three students came to my office hours this week and they all wanted to talk about the same thing: what they should do given the current economic crisis.

Ranging in age from 19 to 21, I could literally see the fears and confusion on their faces. It made me sad and upset. I had just given a few lectures where I mentioned how important it is to define "success" in your own terms. To find and then have the courage to follow your passion. To find your "voice" according to Stephen Covey. I'm not sure whether students thought that I am living on a different planet. Well, I'm living in an ivory tower, at least for part of my life.

Each one of them worried about their future. Each one of them was convinced that they have done "all the right things" - good grades, extracurricular work, networking, internships, part-time jobs, etc. Yet none of them expressed any hope let alone confidence to find a decent job upon graduation.

I reminded them that this crisis is real and severe but that it WILL pass. If I knew when, I probably would be a much sought-after guest on CNN. What I do know and what I told these students is that much of what's going on right now is beyond our control. I told them to continue doing the "right things." To not lose their faith. To still believe in themselves and concentrate on the only thing that they have control over - their decisions and their actions.

I felt more like a therapist than a teacher during this office hour. It was very sad.